West Texas Futurity Trials Friday

Trials set for first Grade 1 futurity of the year.

Stallionesearch.comMarch 21, 2013

Sunland Park has set 10 trials for the 54th running of the West Texas Futurity (G1) on Friday's 11-race card. First post is set for 1 p.m. (MDT). Post for the first trial (Race 2) is expected to be 1:25 p.m. (MDT).

Ninety-four 2-year-old American Quarter Horses are expected to start, with the 10 fastest qualifiers returning on Sunday, April 15 to vie for the winner's portion of the $225,000-est. final. The second 10 fastest qualifiers will also get a shot $50,000-added West Texas Juvenile Stakes on Saturday, April 14.

Last year, El Duero took the winner's purse of $102,059 and used the race as a stepping stone to a close second place finish in the $1 million Heritage Place Futurity (G1) at Remington Park. The Oak Tree Special gelding, now owned by Lionel Zapata, was conditioned by Tony Keeton earned $285,378 in four starts last season. Named the champion 2-year-old gelding, El Duero was bred by Jorge Haddad in Texas.